A Pilot Study Integrating Visual Form and Anthropological Content for Teaching Children Ages 6 to 11 about Cultures and Peoples of the World; Specifically, the Preparation of a Danced Presentation with Lecture Interpreting Some of the Cultural Values in West and Central African Communities. Final Report.

Primus, Pearl E.

A pilot study was conducted to demonstrate the use of dance as a method for improving and extending curriculum content of world cultures in elementary schools. The secondary objectives emphasized nonverbal experience as a means of interpreting the patterns of cultural values in West and Central Africa. Most of the 41 presentations of the dance program were performed before a variety of elementary school audiences, but some presentations were shown to the public. The evaluation consisted of analyzing 666 letters and 691 drawings from children, photographs, taped interviews using questionnaires, and letters from educators and professional advisors. The results showed that an educational program using dance, music, and sculpture to integrate visual form and anthropological content could be used successfully to teach children of ages six to eleven about various cultures. The director urged the use of such programs as "cultural bridges" to establish better understanding among peoples of the world. (JS)